AFL 2025: Jon Ralph examines Luke Jackson’s future at Fremantle and whether he will return to Melbourne

Ex-teammates weren’t sure how serious Luke Jackson was when he first floated a return to Melbourne. Months on, it’s clear Fremantle only has one option left to keep its budding ruck star.

In Fremantle’s multimillion-dollar pitch, Luke Jackson fell in love with the Dockers’ belief he was a hybrid midfielder who could also play ruck and forward.

Footy’s unicorn was adamant he was up to the task of dominating across the ground.

And yet two and a half years into his Dockers career, it is apparent Jackson isn’t a key forward.

And more to the point, he doesn’t really want to be.

Jackson is a different player as the No. 1 ruck. Picture: Getty Images

In a week of denials, counterclaims, official statements and frantic media-door stops, there is one massive consideration for Jackson that has been missed.

His future rises and falls not on his complicated family dynamic, but whether the Dockers go all in on him as their No. 1 ruckman.

If not, they are on the fast track to losing him to Melbourne.

Is Fremantle prepared to back him in as its man at the expense of Sean Darcy, who has five more seasons left on a contract at about $700,000 a year?

Jackson spent several months over the off-season with his partner Kelsey Browne in Melbourne as she was close to a family member battling illness.

There is no doubt he messaged Demons mates — who he is still close to — about a return to the club.

It’s impossible to know how flippant or deadly serious his intent was.

They certainly believed he wanted to return.

Jackson celebrating the 2021 premiership as a Demon. Picture: Michael Klein

Jackson’s family situation is challenging but former Australian netballer Browne has a burgeoning media career in Perth and Jackson has a long-term deal with bonus clauses and games-based triggers.

Jackson thought he could do it all as a ruck, onballer and forward and at times it has worked.

But the Jackson-Darcy dynamic has never quite worked. Darcy is missing again this week with a jarred knee that has caused him all manner of problems.

The comparison between Nic Naitanui and Jackson is instructive.

Put them around the ball where they are always in the action and they thrive.

Play them away from the footy and they can go missing easily.

Dockers players are well aware who gives their midfield set-up a more explosive launch pad when it comes to choosing between Darcy and Jackson.

Fremantle knows how potent its 23-year-old star can be in the ruck.

They are also aware that playing him there has more of a bearing on his future than the family situation.

His manager Jason Dover released a statement this week that made clear he was invested in the Dockers’ cause and not considering a move back to Victoria.

No one can be that emphatic given there is so much of the season to play out.

But Jackson is Fremantle’s priority, not Kysaiah Pickett.

The Dockers would not sacrifice a generational ruck for Pickett unless something had gone disastrously wrong.

The Dockers made a huge play for Sydney’s Chad Warner ahead of chasing Pickett and made clear the Swans’ onballer was their priority.

It’s more likely Pickett asks to get to Fremantle, but if he stays at Melbourne it would be with a lucrative new long-term extension past 2027.

Pickett’s future has been linked with Jackson’s potential move back to Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

The Demons are clearly on board with offering him that deal if he stays.

As coach Simon Goodwin said on Friday: “Kozzie is not going anywhere. He has got two and a half years left on his contract and our plan is to make Kozzie a Dee for life.”

The open question is whether the Dockers are prepared to go all in on Jackson as their No. 1 ruckman.

Industry sources suggested the six-year contract handed to Darcy in December 2023 was at a discount rate of around $700,000 a season.

He will have to play the rest of his career on managed minutes given twin left knee surgeries at the beginning and end of last year.

He dropped weight but also dealt with multiple ankle concerns and his body concerns mean he might never realise his potential at 26.

Sean Darcy has struggled with his body. Picture: Getty Images

It is not clear whether the Dockers would trade him back to Victoria or even pay a portion of his salary for a rival to acquire him to clear the decks for Jackson.

But it would be a clear signal to Jackson that he was their man for the long-term future and that they had faith in him to dominate the ruck for the next 10 years.

The Dockers would not get a high pick for Darcy but if a club knew he was available given the continuing ruck merry-go-round there would be suitors.

If Jackson returned to Melbourne he would reunite with Gawn in a two-ruck combo but at least would have a clear succession plan.

Every scenario is in play, but the biggest priority now for the Dockers is one where Jackson builds a Max Gawn-style resume as a Docker instead of chasing another flag with the seven-time All Australian alongside him.